Alton Little Theater will produce a bonus Musical for four performances, December 4th through 7th


ALWAYS PATSY CLINE by Ted Swindley will be showcased and starring Ms. Debbie Maneke as the woman with one of the most beautiful and distinctive voices in the history of country music.

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The musical, which premiered at the Ryman Auditorium in 2006 has been sweeping the country and most recently completed a long engagement with a professional company at the Westport Playhouse in St. Louis.

ALT originally sought the production rights and availability over two years ago and is proud to bring a fresh staging to the show, which anchors itself on the true-life  friendship between Patsy and a life-long fan from Houston Texas (Louise Seger who will be portrayed by Lee Cox) .

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The production is directed by Diana Enloe with Musical Direction by Mr. Steve Loucks (who also heads up the " Bodacious Bobcats"); the talented group of musicians (including a vintage steel guitar player who just finished the run in St. Louis) lead the audience through over 20 of Patsy's most beloved hits, included " Crazy", " I Fall to Pieces", " Sweet Dreams"  and more ; Patsy recorded barely a hundred songs during her six years on the national stage before her tragic death at age 30  in an airplane crash on her way home to Nashville. Her incredible voice had taken her from an impoverished background in Winchester, Virginia to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry many times, and even to Las Vegas, the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall.

Patsy was not only known  as country music's best female singer of all time but was also revered for her accessibility and down-home values. History records that she corresponded with several female friends and fans across the country and a book " HONKY TONK ANGEL: The Intimate Story of PATSY CLINE" chronicles her chance meeting with Louise Seger and their immediate connection of " broken hearts, loves lost, loves found and the challenges of being a working single mother".

In ALWAYS PATSY CLINE the two actresses share the humor and the heart of their story and highlight many personal moments of Patsy's unparalleled career and  3-octive musical range. Debbie Maneke (who first recorded her own country song when she was Debbie Berry at age 14) says that she is " beyond honored" to portray the women she has come to so love and admire and to perform this special offering for ALT.


Debbie can be reached for interviews at 618- 920-6511. Ticket information is available at 618-462-6562.

 

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